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Why did the Korean War end without a peace treaty?

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Korean War, June–August 1950 — Korean War Map showing North Korean advances in the Korean War in June–August 1950.

The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice rather than a formal peace treaty because the belligerents were unable to resolve the underlying political issues regarding the future of the Korean peninsula.1

While the armistice successfully halted the fighting and established a demilitarized zone, it was intended only as a military cease-fire. Following the signing, an international conference was held in Geneva to discuss a political settlement, but the participants failed to reach an agreement.12

Several factors contributed to this impasse:
* Conflicting Goals: Both North and South Korea claimed legitimacy over the entire country and sought unification, making a permanent political compromise difficult.3
* Cold War Rivalry: The peninsula remained deeply entrenched in the broader Cold War rivalry, with the United States and its allies on one side and communist powers on the other.13
* Lack of Consensus: The negotiations were characterized by deep-seated hostility and a lack of trust, ensuring that the conflict remained unresolved diplomatically even after the cessation of hostilities.13